Finally! We made it for dinner. It has been a series of unfortunate events that led us here. Even today we almost didn't make it. There was snow, traffic, construction and the lobby was flooded with vendors and guests watching the performers. We were late for dinner but were able to share a quick meal. We ordered the salmon with vegetables and the salmon cake which were delicious. They were well seasoned and fresh. Our server Tania A deserves FIVE stars. She was so wonderful - thank you for great service. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The decor is simple but modern.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We made it to the show on time and enjoyed our dinner. I look forward to coming back. read more

Nico Kitchen & Bar - New American Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

Great spot conveniently located in NJ Pac building. Ideal location to grab dinner or drinks before a show or event at the prudential center. We went for a happy hour event for work and were easily able to walk over. Staff was very friendly and attentive. The only issue I would say is parking if you don't take the train in. read more

The food is always great! The staff are always welcoming and helpful! [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant looks really nice,[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I usually take myself out to eat here once in a while. They never disappoint! read more

Nico Kitchen & Bar - Beef Short Rib w. gnocchi in pesto sauce, green peas w. cabernet demi glace - New American Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Great spot to grab food and hang out prior to shows at the NJ Performing Arts Center (NJPAC).[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Stopped in with my daughter (17 yrs old) last night before the Third Eye Blind show. I didn't think to make a reservation which is a must. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Only bar was open which wasn't an option due to my daughter's age.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]They do have couches with large tables in between which they offered as a seating for us.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The hostesses were amazing in finding an option to accommodate us. Very friendly and didn't make us feel awkward for not thinking to reserve a table. That was a great start! From there the experience continued to improve. The service was top notch and the food was excellent. We got the Hennessy Glazed wings off the specials menu as well as the braised short rib sandwich (also a special offering). Sandwich came with their sidewinder fries which are epic! So much food! Super convenient, friendly and accommodating staff, excellent food. Nothing more could be expected. Highly recommend but would also be sure to reserve a table and do it far in advance as there is limited space. Wouldn't hesitate to come in again at our next show. read more

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If you are going to a show at NjPac or Prudential, this is a great spot to go to before the show. A diverse menu with great cocktails that you are able to take in to go cups and bring into the venue. I ordered my steak frites medium rare and it came out more well done, so that was my only issue, but other than that the service was quick and efficient and the food was great. read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]This was a good pre comedy show spot.. it gives an upscale feel.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. very good and attentive service ,.. we ordered light food and drinks which were good. The prices were fair .. and we were able to use a side entrance from the restaurant after eating to be admitted into the show. read more

Went here recently for a lunch on an early January weekday. Not many people were in there at the time.. Place is open and airy. Decent decor, nothing to write about. It seemed clean and inviting. Our waitress was very pleasant and accommodating. I ordered a chickpea salad which was light and tasty. Mixed greens, tomatoes, chickpeas (of course). Just filling enough. I loved my butternut squash soup topped with pumpkin seeds.. also another solid choice, that is probably seasonal, but was still around in January. I'm glad that it was still an option! Believe it or not, the standout was the earl grey tea that I ordered. It was floral and beautiful, I smelled it as soon as I poured it from the cute tea pot that it was served in... I just added a bit of cream, and it was a great choice on a very cold winter day. Parking is really difficult, so that may hinder me from coming back, unfortunately. But, overall, pleasant experience. read more

Nico Kitchen & Bar - New American Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

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Fabulous place for lunch meeting, dinner meetings and happy hour for a specialty cocktail. A new chicken sandwich is in the menu that is superb. Got try it! I'll be back! read more

Went here for lunch midday in the middle of the week. It was pretty empty, which was good because it's a pretty small restaurant. The waitress was nice, but service did take a while. The steak was on the tougher side, but it was cooked to perfection. The salmon was good, and the gnocchi was delicious. The best part, though, were the beignets, which had caramel on the inside and were absolutely delicious. I would go back just for those! read more

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Amazing, the food, the service and the ambience was just perfect before the concert. One of the best burgers I've tasted, and the potatoes were perfect with the burger. My daughter wanted me to put in a good word for the biscuits, delicious! I will eat here every time. read more

Stopped at their bar before attending a Saturday evening concert. At this point there were 2 bartenders and a few open seats at the bar. Both bartenders were quick to attend all that approached their area of the bar. As the concert was soon to begin our bartender was quick to close our tab and send us on our way. Throughout the show we continued to go to this bar as the service was well worth it. After the show we decided to go back to Nico's and stumbled upon double the amount of customers at the bar and seating area. At this point, there was now 3 bartenders and all 3 were extremely attentive to every single person. Maya was our favorite! The manager Carlos was also great! He made his rounds to assure customers were good. Handled the establishment very professionally and yet with a charisma to his employees. Behind the bar walls is a dining area. Looking forward to planning a dining experience. read more

We had a dinner reservation here before going to a concert at NJPAC on a Saturday night and enjoyed our meal. Service was friendly, attentive, and prompt. The martini and beer were at Happy Hour prices, which was great. We enjoyed the French onion soup, watercress salad with chicken, and risotto. I'd definitely come back when we have tickets to a show at the adjoining venue and perhaps sit in the bar area next time. The atmosphere in the dining room is a bit open and sterile aside from some great artwork for sale and a few plants. Very echoey, big dining room, that could use some more decor. Lacking a bit of charm, but overall a good experience. read more

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We came to area to see a show at the performance center and made a 6 o'clock reservation and got here about 20 minutes early. Checked in and was able to be seated right away! Waiter and waitress came over to the table right away to take our drink orders. Food came out before our drinks. Waited over 45 minutes for a mule and an old fashioned. Waiter apologized and not for nothing he has not stopped moving at all! Husband ordered a soup and was not given a spoon. We ordered the pizza and a side of fries . We're given no plates as well. Food was absolutely amazing!!' Prices are great. Once we got the drinks, the mule was watered down properly from sitting over at the bar, but all tasted great. Over all we would definitely come back and would suggest if you're in the area to stop over. It does get a little loud once it starts to fill up. But lighting is soft and just over all a nice place to eat. read more

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I came here for dinner before a show at the performing arts center. It's a roomy restaurant with a modern decor. We sat in a booth. To drink, I ordered the Bla Bla Bla Mojito. It came in an unexpectedly tall glass. It was tasty. A little sweeter than I would've preferred, but the fresh mint gave it a refreshing balance. However it wasn't very strong; I could barely taste the alcohol in it. To eat, we shared one of the pizza specials with pesto, tomato, and honey. I really enjoyed it. It had a buttery, crispy crust and great flavor. We also ordered a side of fries which came with ketchup and a slightly sweet flavored mayo. The fries were very uniquely shaped. They were spiraled, but much larger and thicker than regular curly fries. They were nicely seasoned. Our waitress asked if we were attending the show when we first sat down and made sure the food came out in a timely manner. The bathroom was spacious and clean. Their dinner menu was a bit limited and didn't have many dishes for vegetarians. Still, this is a good option to grab a quick bite before an event next door. read more

Convenient place located right within NJ Pac so came here before a show. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Walked in and the place was EMPTY however hostess mentioned reservations for a table were required as only the couches or bar seating were available.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] (Weird but okay) Decided to sit at the bar and got a few drinks to start with. The server who was taking care of us was a bit slow at first. We were sitting around with empty glasses for a bit as they chatted with the couple next to us so it was a bit irritating. Eventually our server got better and quicker as the night went on. I decided to order the pizza which was a huge mistake. Again, the place was empty so it was hard for me to understand why the pizza took almost an hour to finally get served to me??? My friend had already finished her meal and my pizza still hadn't arrived. Our server was apologetic mentioning that the pizza did usually take a bit long to make however it was inexcusable how the people sitting next to us had gotten their pizza at least 20 minutes before me despite getting seated after us. All in all- very convenient location when going before a show. Drinks were good. You can even take some in a to-go cup to bring to the show. If you end up coming, do not order the pizza, especially if you're in a rush. Not sure what on earth was happening back in the kitchen but seems like they need some adjustments made. read more

This is a perplexing restaurant: the service is impeccable, the decor is lovely, but the food is mediocre at best. The biscuits -- which our server highly recommended -- were so overbaked that they were crunchy and tough to break apart. The greens served with one entree were well beyond fresh. The Maryland fish cake had little flavor and hardly any sauce. The pizza was ok but nothing special. And worst of all, the napkins smelled so terrible (mildew?) that we were concerned we might get sick from using them. Such a disappointing meal, but now we understand why the restaurant was half-empty on a Friday night, even with a show happening at NJPAC. read more

Review for prix-fixe menu only. On this trip to see the Holidaze Cirque show at NJPAC, we decided to try Nico primarily for the convenience of one stop parking, dining and entertainment. Unfortunately for us, on this trip Nico did not offer its regular, Italian inspired menu. Our choices were limited to a slim 3 course prix fixe menu that did not deliver what the NYT raved about in its 2013 review, and what my fellow Yelpers find so spectacular about this restaurant generally. The Good: The room is suave and sophisticated -- cavernous -- with upscale decor and efficient service. Nice wines by the glass and decent beers on tap -- at reasonable price points. They offer a kids menu (pasta and chicken fingers) which keeps the tab a bit more manageable with youngsters in tow. We had 5:30 reservations for a 7:00 show. The kitchen and servers time the courses and the meal to give you plenty of room to comfortably eat then find your seats next door and settle in for the show. This efficiency is better than what you find at some other neighborhood restaurants who are not as invested in the NJPAC show schedule. The Bad: They ran out of bread. Really? At 5:30? Bread freezes well (meaning you should always have an emergency stash on hand). For an operation this size that represents saucy Italian food -- breadlessness is almost unforgivable. Having offered us bread at the start of our meal then telling us 10 minutes later that they were out -- only added insult to injury. The shrimp "not" gnocchi was mostly sautéed shrimp and vegetables with a few gnocchi thrown in as an afterthought. If the menu did not say gnocchi, I'd have thought I was eating some sort of Asian stir fry. The chicken over broccolini was a plain, tiny roasted leg and thigh over a stalk of steamed broccolini. Skimpy, bland and uninteresting. Costco roast chicken is better. At the price of Nico's chicken dish, I could buy several of Costco's birds and be happier munching on them in a Costco food court. The Ugly: My burger was inedibly hammered beyond well done. No amount of juicy toppings could save it. The fries were wilted. Safe to say this was the worst burger I have ever been served. It was cardboard in my mouth. To top it off, desserts were so forgettable -- I won't even go there. I hate starting a new Yelp review year with a meh review but this was truly a disappointing experience. In fairness, I'd try Nico again when seeing a show at NJPAC, but only off the regular menu -- or just for cocktails. The room, convenience to the venue, service and ambiance are great. Too bad for us that the food on this occasion did not live up to the hype. read more

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Excellent service ambience & food. However I ordered something that was too spicy for me and did not complain. HOWEVER when the waiter Isaiah asked us how I liked it I said it was too spicy HOWEVER the manager Ulysses just came and apologized (although there was nothing to apologize for) he did not charge. Everyone I was with loved their choices. It was my mistake not asking if it was spicy but everything was fresh with nice presentation and seemed quite fresh & told were excellent. I would recommend read more

Enjoyed a good meal here before a show at NJPAC. Conveniently located near the lobby. Seated right away and the restaurant had modern decor. Waitstaff was all very friendly. They just released their fall menu, we enjoyed the chard apple salad and the herbed chicken - the potato's were fantastic! I ordered a burger which was a little undercooked. Overall a good experience read more

The food was delicious and our server, Cassandra D, was top notch. If you're ever in Newark, NJ you should stop by for a bite and a Lemon Drop martini! read more

Nico Kitchen & Bar - Salmon Cakes - New American Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

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MEH!! We decided to dine here since it's conveniently located inside of NJPAC. We made a reservation for 6pm and they honored it as soon as we walked in. The hostess was friendly and so was our waitress which was refreshing. The menu is extremely limited and most items are over $20. I was in the mood for fish, so I decided to go with the salmon. The order took about 30 minutes to come out, and when it did I was completely disappointed! The food was subpar and almost tasteless. They only offer a wine menu. The waitress informed us that the bar can make any drink you want- they just don't have a menu of drinks. I ordered a Malibu bay-breeze and it tasted like everything but Malibu! I suggest ordering a glass of wine to stay on the safe side. If you're looking to pay big prices for small tasteless portions, then this is the place for you! Otherwise, I suggest venturing out to one of the other great restaurants that Newark has to offer. read more

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My wife and I attended a show at NJ PAC on 12/23/2023. From about 7:15 PM to 7:35 PM I waited at the bar to order a drink however I was totally ignored by the bartenders/customer service team. There was only 1 other customer at the bar eating. The bartenders literally had their backs toward me and did not turn around. No acknowledgment , no greeting, nothing. Therefore I left. DS read more

the food was amazing.. Raymond our server was fantastic.. attentive, friendly..[[HIGHLIGHT]]wonderful atmosphere.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. good selection.. fair prices.. convenient.. make sure you try this place.. you'll make it a regular!!! read more

We sat at the bar with the best bartender ever! THANKS FADI! He made the best French Martini and Ginger Margarita (he had just made this one up) EVER! I love ginger and I never thought of having it with alcohol, but I'm so glad he recommended it! He catered to us and made sure that our cups and plates were always the way we wanted them. We had some shots also, but they were also made by Fadi. The place is super convenient and located at the NJPAC, the outside scenery is also very beautiful. There's outside seating (it was closed when we got there), but I would come back to enjoy the outside seating. As an appetizer we had wings (ranch sauce on the side) and crab cakes with slaw. The sauce the wings came with was amazing, the crab cakes weren't the best but they were decent. As a main dish we had the Brick City Chicken, the sauce the chicken was laid and covered in was amazing. The sauce was not too thick, but it also wasn't watery, it was the perfect texture; the mushrooms (which I usually don't eat) were great as well. I don't eat broccoli at all, so I subbed mine for fries. The other main dish we enjoyed was the grilled salmon, with a side of fries instead of the market vegetables. The fries were a great complement to both entrees. Overall, the food was great and the service was even better! Thanks Fadi for making our evening entertaining and allowing us to try some of the best drinks we ever had. read more

Nico Kitchen & Bar - Menu - New American Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

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The atmosphere, location, and staff were 5 stars. The 3 star rating is really for the food. My friend and I went there early on Saturday. We both had drinks which were pretty good. We ordered the wings for an appetizer. The wings had good flavor and were not overly saucy. My friend ordered the lamb and I ordered the gnocchi. The lamb was slightly salty. I love gnocchi but this gnocchi was extremely bland. I actually sent it back because it just was not good. I then ordered the Margherita pizza which was ehh. I don't think I'll return for food but definitely for the drinks and service. read more

Great drinks, decent service but a little slow and not a huge selection on the Menu. I'll probably return on a Weekend and give it another chance. read more

Went for a group dinner - probably about 25 on a Tuesday evening around 6:30. Place was deserted - not another customer in the restaurant, so that was intimidating. Parking though was good given the emptiness - right in front of the door in the private lot. Group had drinks, several appetizers - fries with cheese was a bit odd; wings; shrimp toast; fried calamari and a couple of others. Everyone ordered from the menu, which took the kitchen a long long time to prepare. Staff though were attentive filling water glasses, other drinks, rolls. I had a broiled salmon on a bed of veg with baby potatoes - really good and filling. I hope this restaurant is busy on the lunch hour and weekends, as it seems like a great choice in the area and the kitchen and staff are competent. read more

Nico Kitchen & Bar - New American Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

Slow service. 20 minute wait for a beer when the place wasn't even busy. Sausage and pepper pizza was more like 'essence if sausage and hint of pepper, read more

I went to a concert at NJPAC and enjoyed a meal at Nico Kitchen & Bar Restaurant. It's a good start before the start of the show. The service was quick and I love that they had a healthy dish on the menu. It definitely sets the tone for the concert ahead. read more

Nico Kitchen & Bar - New American Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

Great dinner before NJPAC speaker series. Jenny, our waitress, was exceptional. She made excellent recommendations ( which we wisely followed.) Great food and attentive service. read more

Nico Kitchen & Bar - Swordfish - New American Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

Great food with fast and friendly service! We ordered the Skillet Half Chicken, Margherita Pizza, and the Buttermilk Biscuits with honey butter and it was all so delicious!! Highly recommend!! read more

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Good food good service happy hours great enjoyed the drinks Good experience would love to come back read more

Several years ago, we had a decent dinner with good service at Nico Kitchen + Bar, which is in the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, but on Sunday, we went for a jazz brunch -- a buffet with a soul food theme and after the meal, entertainment by tenor saxophonist Houston Person's quintet. The music was great -- Person just celebrated his 85th birthday and a birthday cake was brought out to the bandstand -- but the food disappointed. The soul food buffet favored meat eaters, with entrees of Applewood Smoked Bacon, Crispy Buttermilk Fried Chicken and Beef Brisket slices in smoky barbecue sauce. My wife tried the fried chicken and brisket, and found both overcooked and dried out. And a pescetarian like me was disappointed not to find any fried whiting or catfish among this so-called soul food. So, I had to satisfy myself with side dishes -- a spring mix salad, Hoppin John (black eyed peas and rice), collard greens (without the hunks of duck) and candied yams. There also was mac & cheese and potato salad. I also went to the omelet station, where I ordered vegetable omelets without bacon for my wife and I. And there were mimosas and Bloody Marys lined up on the bar, but the latter ran out first, and the bartender asked people who wanted a Bloody Mary to take a mimosa instead. There were several sugary desserts, including banana trifle, but I was happy with the fruit salad with plump, sweet blueberries and strawberry slices. Service was awful. Servers came around to fill water glasses and bring coffee, but I never got the Earl Gray Tea I asked one server for. And when the music started, none of the servers made a move to clear tables, and I had to bus our dishes. (We shared the table with two other couples). read more

Nico Kitchen & Bar - At the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, avoid Nico Kitchen + Bar's Sunday brunch buffet. - New American Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

When attending an event at NJ PAC we ate here before the performance Our expectations were low since they have a captive audience of being adjacent to the venue Service was excellent Food was very good I would plan to go there again read more

This is an awesome restaurant!!! Nico is Newark's Best fine dining restaurant. This is one great restaurant in the entire Metropolitan area. Nico has a wonderful lunch menu: -If you enjoy fish, I've had the Blacken Yellow Fin Tuna sandwich ($16.00) on several occasions. The fish has always been extremely fresh. -For those Burger lovers, their cheddar cheeseburger ($12.00) is excellent. Their meat is definitely high quality beef. You do have a choice of a side salad or fries. I opted for the very fresh green salad. -It's great to go during lunch, because the food is quickly prepared and done to perfection. Therefore, leaving you time not to have to rush your lunch to get back to the office. -Bar service is excellent for drink and food. -They have a great wine list. I recently had a lovely glass of 2013 Bordeaux ($10.00). -Customer service is always super friendly. The restaurant is very easy to get to as it's right off of McCarter Highway (Rt.21). Nico is located right in the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. Looks like Newark is starting to have its "Heyday Again" with wonderful restaurants like Nico! read more

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We knew ahead of time we were going to be late and tried to call. We called FIVE times and there was no answer. However, we arrived and were seated. It took 15 to get our first drinks which came after my cold soup with no spoon. #waitertastethesoup. We then got served the steak frites sans steak knives, which comes with arugula salad. Our salad was a dry pile of leaves and the steak, albeit tender, was flavorless and underwhelming. Our waitress never came by to ask how anything was, for if she had, we would have let her know. Even getting the check was difficult, and was not busy. The service was terrible. Do not waste your time or money here. read more

Came here the first time for a Yelp event. I liked what I ate at the event and really wanted to try their lobster macaroni and cheese. I decided to order take out since I wasn't in a mood to actually eat there, but when I called I was told they only had a limited menu that evening and did not have the lobster macaroni and cheese. I somewhat accidentally ordered the "Fascino Ricotta Gnocchi" (when she told me the items on the phone, I meant to see "the third one" but said "the second one" or something of the like). After I got off the phone, I realized she had confirmed my order as the gnocchi and was a little worried as gnocchi can sometimes be tough or heavy. I was pleasantly surprised with what I got. The take out was served in a plastic bowl that looked nice enough and was super functional (no leaking sauce, etc.). The gnocchi were soft and soooooo delicious. The ricotta was perfect-- I don't normally like gnocchi much but I loved these. It had this really tasty sausage bolognese sauce with the right amount of cheese, a lot of meat (but not too much), and a bit of basil. My food was about $15 including tax and tip which is a lot less than I expected for the location and quality. Also, this dish is actually from Fascino which is the owner's other restaurant and there it costs a bit more so that's another reason to come here. I definitely want to come back to eat here in the restaurant or try their happy hour (described on their website, seems like a good deal). If I do so, I will definitely update my review accordingly but 4 stars for now! read more

Nico Kitchen & Bar - New American Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

Dinner before show at NJPAC. Waiter took our order for 2 beers. Waited awhile for the beers...had to ask waiter. We ordered salad to start to share. Another waitress brought bowl of salad, no plates. We both ordered the mushroom Risotto. It was undercooked oily and mushrooms were very chewy. Service was poor read more

09/15/18 Decided to stop in for a bite after the Kem concert tonight. Was seated pretty quickly but the service was extremely slow. At least 3 couples walked out without being served. The folks next to me received their order before we did even though my girl ordered the same margherita pizza as the other party, and when she finally received it half an hour later it was a cheese pizza. The other party's burger was sent back because it was raw. Evelyn was doing her best but had no help from the kitchen or management. We weren't sure where the manager was as no one tried to stop diners from leaving or even offer an official apology. Here is a pic of what they considered a margherita pizza. Evelyn told us the manager comped the meal but that still doesn't make up for the lack of service. Unfortunately this is my 2nd visit here, both times I was underwhelmed. read more

Nico Kitchen & Bar - New American Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

I have to start with the fact that Raul is the bomb dot com. He is attentive, friendly and knows and loves Nico Kitchen & Bar. He had wonderful recommendations and he was super helpful throughout my time there. I'm literally writing this review whilst waiting for my desert (brownie a la mode). Will be back just because of the wonderful service and delicious food. You have to stop by! read more